Ottawa vigil reflects on mass shooting targeting LGBTQ community in Orlando
'We worry about our safety now. Coming here tonight, there's still that apprehension'
Draped in pride flags and holding candles, more than 100 people stood at the steps of the Human Rights Monument in downtown Ottawa on Sunday night to reflect on the 50 lives lost and dozens more injured in a mass shooting more than 2,000 kilometres away.
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"It's hard to find the words. It's shocking, it's painful. It's attacking these people and this community in Orlando, but it affects everyone, it affects us all," said Glen Crawford, who attended the vigil.
"We feel that pain because we've all gone through different stages of bullying or violence or attacks. It's painful that, in this time when we've fought so many battles and we've won so many battles, we're still at a place where there's still so much hate."
Capital Pride arranged the memorial, which began at about 8 p.m. A Pride flag flew outside the Heritage Building at City Hall just steps away, and will remain there until Thursday.
'Hatred — that's what this is'
Carole Clark attended the vigil with her five-year-old grandson, Caden.
"I'm the mother of a gay man and his partner, and it could have been them. And so it's incredible pain, to see this loss. ... I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that that could happen," she said.
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Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna said it's a call to action.
"It's a reminder that we think we've made a lot of progress, but there's still a lot more to do," she said.
Robert Alexander, the interim executive director of Bruce House — an organization that provides housing and other supports for people with HIV and AIDS — said violence, like the shooting in Orlando, makes it hard for people in the community to feel safe.
"I've experienced homophobia and hatred — that's what this is — in many communities. But this is just devastating to see, this kind of hatred happening this quickly and impacting so many lives in Florida," Alexander said.
"We worry about our safety now. Coming here tonight, there's still that apprehension: is there somebody in our community where this may have given them something to think about and an opportunity to make it happen somewhere else?"
'We must keep making progress'
Tammy Dopson, the chair of Capital Pride, said Sunday's vigil was organized "because people need that in this time."
She found out about the shooting after having breakfast with her family. She was driving and had to pull her car over to process it.
"It was just a moment of complete incomprehension," she said.
Mayor Jim Watson issued an emailed statement Sunday offering his condolences after the shooting.
"We are fortunate to live in a city and a country that embrace diversity, and where people are free to love who they wish to love. But this act of hate and terror reminds us that we must keep making progress until this climate of acceptance is extended to all members of the LGBTQ community around the world," the statement reads.
"There is simply no reason for this senseless act of violence. We will keep those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish them strength in their battle against hatred, discrimination and extremism."
